Mfg. Description: The Astron Mark is excellent for the beginner in model rocketry. This kit is easy to build, and acquaints the rocketeer with the methods of streamer recovery. Ideal for demonstrations and sport flying. (Estes 1961 Catalog)

=====

1963 Catalog text identical to 1961 Catalog

=====

An excellent bird for novice or experienced rocketeer. Easy to build, ideal for sport and demonstration flying, the Astron Mark gives top notch performance. Kit comes complete with all parts and instructions (but no engines). (Estes 1964 Catalog)

We must have been buying and building at about the same time. I purchased my K-2 Mark in September of 1970, but didn't get around to building it until 71. When the 13mm mini-Brutes motors came out it was one of my "test beds" conversions. Kept trying to loose it on those Old B3's

Somewhere I have a couple pics of it I'll post it when I can put my finger on it.

Edit: Took a little digging but I found a couple old Poloriod pics one b&w and one color.. and one I'd completely forgotten about the Astron Mark-II (K2) built a year later. To be honest I don't even recall launching it??? Amazing what ya find in the piles.

Thanks, BillE. I was inspired by one of TBZep's finishes, which was on an Alpha, IIRC.

Doug

.

Mine was inspired by JimZ including a Mark II decal in with the Condor and Andromeda decals I bought. I also built the Hornet out of that BMS BT-30 order, but I didn't care for the way it came out. It was one of the rockets I lost when the floor guys pulverized the old hearth in our house when they redid our wood floors.

I probably would never have built one, but I ordered some decals from JimZ and he included a Mark II decal with the order. I went and ordered BT-30 and a nose cone from BMS and used basswood for the fins.

Sorry, can't get this one to show correctly no matter how many times I rotate it, recopy it, etc.

I purchased a Mark, mail order, in one of the first big orders I purchased from Estes. It might have even been a free kit.

I remember building it, accidentally gluing in the dummy motor casing (my dad got it out in time), and putting reinforcing adhesive paper on the fins. Then my lummox cousin played with it and snapped the fins. (And then asked "can we launch it?") I don't know what happened to that Mark.

I had a Mark II, but don't recall its fate.

When I started my cloning career after moving to the Bay Area, I was thrilled to see that Totally Tubular had a BT-30 equivalent tube. I had BMS make me up a bunch of cones and made part bundles for a bunch of Marks, Sky Hooks, Space Planes and Scouts. Most went unbuilt, used as gifts. But I made a Mark for myself and painted it with dope.

It's a great flyer. You can see the fins are eroded a bit at the bottom of the body tube. This is an authentic clone with a balsa thrust ring. The engine mounts flush with the bottom of the body tube.

I made mine after I purchased an original set of Estes Mark II decals. I used BMS nose cone and BT-30, custom rolled my own tube coupler, used basswood for the fins. Sanded to 400 grit between 3 coats of Krylon white primer, then Krylon gloss yellow and gloss black masked with green frog tape, Excellsior decals, then FFW. Flies great on a B6-4 motor.

I purchased a Mark, mail order, in one of the first big orders I purchased from Estes. It might have even been a free kit.

I remember building it, accidentally gluing in the dummy motor casing (my dad got it out in time), and putting reinforcing adhesive paper on the fins. Then my lummox cousin played with it and snapped the fins. (And then asked "can we launch it?") I don't know what happened to that Mark.

I had a Mark II, but don't recall its fate.

What was the fate of your lummox cousin after he snapped the fins??

I had an original Mark, circa 1970, then cloned one in the early 90's. I bought and built the Semroc version, and dressed it up with a decal set from Gordo at Excelsior. Weird thing was, on it's first flight, under mighty A8-3 power, a fin broke, length-wise, during the boost phase.